Device including a chain drive for storing and displaying rolled-up merchandise



May 9, 1967 w. SCHNEIDER 3,318,459

DEVICE INCLUDING A CHAIN DRIVE FOR STORING AND DISPLAYING ROLLED-UP MERCHANDISE Filed oct. 12, 1965 2 sheets-sheet 1 Kv QL *l w 2 Q KD* I L E L 34 q-\ M Mm 116m X MX May 9, 1967 w. SCHNEIDER 3,318,459

DEVICE INCLUDING A CHAIN DRIVE FOR STORING AND DISPLAYING ROLLED-UP MERCHANDISE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. l2. 1965 United States Patent() DEVICE INCLUDING A CHAIN DRIVE FOR STGR.

lsG AND DISPLAYING RGLLED-UP MERCHAN- Willy Schneider, Vorst, Post Schwenke, Westphalia, Germany; Ingeborg Schneider, nee Hefendehl, heir of said Willy Schneider, deceased Filed Oct. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 495,150 Claims priority, application Germany, June 22, 1965, Sch 37,260 8 Claims. (Cl. 211-122) This invention relates to devices for storing and displaying Iolls of merchandise in sheet-form as, for instance, floor coverings of various materials, which materials are rolled-up and stored in the form of a roll.

It is a general object of this invention to provide improved devices of the aforementioned description.

This invention refers more particularly to devices of the above desciiption including a stand supporting four sprocket wheels arranged in spaced pairs in parallel vertical planes, each of said pairs supporting an endless revolving chain intended to support a horizontal rod at the axially outer ends thereof, which rod, in turn, is inserted into a roll of rolled-up merchandise and supports the latter.

Prior art storage and display devices of this type have a number of significant advantages, but also a number of significant drawbacks, or limitations. A

It is, therefore, another object of this invention to provide storage and display devices of this type having all the significant advantages of the aforementioned prior art devices, but not being subject to any of the limitations of the prior art devices.

The most serious limitation of the aforementioned prior art devices is the difficulty involved in attaching rolls of merchandise to the revolving chains thereof and to remove rolls of merchandise from these chains.

It is, therefore, another object of this invention to provide storage and display devices for merchandise in the form of -rolls suspended on a pair of revolving chains adapted to readily secure the rolls of merchandise to the chains and to readily remove the rolls of merchandise from the chains.

In prior art devices of the kind under consideration the roll-carrying chains are provided with pairs of hooks intended to engage the ends of a rod arranged inside of a roll of merchandise and projecting beyond the axially outer ends of such a roll. 'Ihe roll of merchandise is placed on a carriage or cart supporting the roll exactly in the center region thereof, and when the carriage is raised and tilted in an appropriate fashion the aforementioned hooks on the revolving chains engage the axially outer ends of the aforementioned rod and lift the roll of merchandise from the carriage or cart.

Considering that rolls of oor covering have a diameter in the order of, say, 18 to 22 inches, a width of, say, 2-4 yards, and a weight of, say 4,000-S,000 lbs., it will be apparent that handling such a roll of merchandise in the aforementioned way amounts to an extremely diicult task. To lift the heavy rolls on the aforementioned carriage or cart, and to place them in the proper position on it, requires a great amount of physical strength and of dexterity.

Another way of securing the rolls of merchandise to the chains of the storing and displaying device is to perform this operation while the chains stand still rather than while the chains are revolving. This requires the cooperation of two persons of which one person lifts the projecting ends of the roll-supporting-rod arranged inside of the roll by means of a lever or bar, and the other person places the ends of the hooks which are supported by the chain under, and into engagement with, the raised ends of the roll-supporting-bar.

It is, therefore, another object of this invention to provide storing and displaying devices of the above description which are not subject to the aforementioned disadvantages, or drawbacks.

One might attempt to arrange the hooks on the revolving chains in such a fashion that they are automatically engaged by the projecting ends of the roll-supporting rod of a roll of merchandise properly placed between the revolving chains, such engagement taking place at a predetermined point of the trajectory ing jointly with the chains. This would mean that the outer surface of the roll of merchandise would be caused to frictionally engage the door any time the particular roll of merchandise is lowered to the lowest position or level thereof, or lowered to the same position it had when automatically grabbed by the pair of hooks attached to the roll-carrying pair of chains. This is an intolerable condition. When flictionally engaging the iloor the roll and the roll-supporting rod would have a tendency to rotate, and to thereby unwind a length of material from the roll. The tendency of joint rotation of the roll and of its supporting rod would exist to some extent'in any position, or at any level, of these two parts.

It is, therefore, lanother object of this invention to provide storing and displaying devices of the aforementioned description having hooks adapted to automatically grab a roll of merchandise which is placed in the right position relative to the trajectory of the hooks, which devices are not subject to the aforementioned drawbacks and limitations, i.e. wherein the roll of merchandise is not caused to frictionally engage the oor when lowered to its lowest position, and wherein there is no tendency of unwinding of the merchandise at whatever level the roll of merchandise may be situated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will, in part, be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description and drawings in which:

FIG. l is a side elevation of a device embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of details of the structure of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing these details in a first position and on a larger scale than FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the details shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the details Ashown in FIG. 3 on the same scale as FIG. 3 showing these details in a second position, or other position than in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of the details shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section of two plate chain links forming part of the chain of the structure of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring now to the drawings, numeral 1 has been applied to indicate a pair of spaced uprights or columns. Columns 1 are joined by a pair -of prismatic horizontal beams 2. Beams 2 are rectangular in cross-section and form jointly with uprights 1 a stand which is dimensionally very stable. Each upright 1 supports a bearing 1EL adjacent its upper end. Bearings la support a shaft 3 which, in turn, supports a pair of sprocket wheels'4.

Sprocket wheels 4 vare arranged adjacent the axially outer ends of shaft 3 immediately adjacent to uprights 1 and bearings 1a. 1b arranged at a substantially lower level than bearing 1a. Each bearing 1b supports a supports a sprocket wheel 4. Each of the sprocket wheels 4 positioned at a higher level is arranged in registry with of the hooks revolv-- Each upright 1 further supports a bearing pivot pin 5 which, in turn,

one of the sprocket wheels positioned at the lower level. The bearings 1b are provided with means (not shown) for changing their level within predetermined limits. The left pair of sprocket wheels 4 (FIG. 2) supports a chain 6 made up of plate links, and the right pair of sprocket wheels 4 supports a chain 5 identical to the rst-rnentioned chain. Reference numeral 4a has been applied to indicate the spaces between contiguous sprockets of sprocket wheels 4. These spaces are substantially semicircular in cross-section, and their diameterconforms to that of hollow pins 6a used for joining contiguous plate links to form a link chain 6. FIG. 7 clearly shows the fashion in which links of chain 6 in the form of spaced pairs of plates are joined together by hollow pins 6a, i.e. pins having a central bore or passageway 6b. The constituent links of the chain 6 are spaced by tubular spacers 6. It will be apparent from the foregoing that the chains 6Ymounted onand supported by wheels 4 are chains of the kind known as plate link chain, or Galles chain.

Shaft 3 is provided with an appropriate drive (not shown). This may either be Va motor drive or a manual drive, as desired.

Reference letter W has of material in sheet-form which may have a considerable weight. Roll W defines on the inside thereof a tubular space enclosing =a hollow core of cardboa-rd. Preparatory to supporting roll W on the stand Vor frame structure 1, 2, a hollow supporting rod 7 is inserted into the hollow cardboard core of roll W. Hollow rod 7 supports on the axially outer ends thereof a pair of tubular extensions 7a dening passages 7b. Extensions 7@ engage the radially inner surface of hollow supporting rod 7, and are 'ar-- ranged eccentrically inside of rod 7. Both extensions 72v f are arranged in registry, i.e. along the same lgeneratrix of cylindrical supporting rod 7. Supporting rod 7 and roll W may be'attached to the two chains 6 supported by wheels 4 by'means of pins 8, Sa inserted into the cylindrical passageways 6b'of hollow chain pins 6a. Pins 8,v 8,a include a head 8 by means of which they are ma- Y nipulated andY a shank 8f1L which projects into one of the passageways 7h defined by extensions 7a of hollow rod 7. VReference numeral Si? has been applied to indicate pin members in the nature of cotter pins projecting transversiely through extensions 72L and shanks 8a for precluding -relative movements of these parts in a direction longi-V tudinally thereof.

The structure embodying this prises a/mechanism for conveniently securing .rolls W of merchandise to the revolving chains 6 on wheels 4. This mechanism includes a pair of plates 9 having an integral pin 9a, 9b arranged at right angles to thek plane definedY by plate 9 and inserted into the passageway 6b formed by one -of the pins 6a by which the plate links of the two chains 6 are joined together. Reference character 9a has been applied to indicate the side of pin 9a, 9*? projecting into one of the passageways 6b defined by one of the hollow pins '6a and reference character 9b has been applied to indicate the side of pin 9a, 9b projecting from the opposite side -of plate 9. Each of the pair of plates 9 is provided with aV secondV pin 9C which Vis integral with it and arranged parallel, andv inspaced re- Y lation, to pin 93, 9b. Reference numeral 9e has been applied to indicate a pair :of -rods each having a transverse aperture 9d at the upper end thereof engaged by the pins 9c integral with plates 9. Each rod 9e forms on the lower end thereof a hook 9f. YHooks 9 are intended to engage the axial extensions 7a of rod 7 while the chains 6 on wheels 4 are revolving, and thus to lift roll or rolls W from the floor. FIGS. 3 and 4 show how hooks 9f engage extensions 7a in the process of lifting a rollrW of `mechandise from the door upon which it had ybeen resting.

Assuming that a roll W of merchandise had been lifted in the above described manner to a level of about l yard above ground or door level, in this position of roll W the been applied to indicate a rollV vention further cornlatter cannot yet be pinned by means of pins 8, 8a to the two revolving chains 6 because the passageways 6b of pins 6a are not yet in registry with the passageways 7b of the axial extensions 7a of hollow .rod 7. Reference character x has been applied to indicate the spacing between extensions 7a and the passageways 6b defined by contiguous pins 6a of chain 6. In order to be able to pin extensions 7a to the two revolving chains 6 on wheels 4, the distance x must be reduced to zero.Y ToV be more specific, pins 8, 8a can be inserted at any time into passageways 6b of pins 6a, but in order to be able to push pins 8a in a direction longitudinally thereof into extensions 7 of hollow rod 7, the passageways 6b and 7b must be aligned, or arranged in coaxial relation. This can readily be achieved by operating bell-crank-shaped handle levers 9g of which one is tarranged'immediately adjacent to each upright 1. Each lever 9g is provided with two holes 9h, 9i for receiving the ends 9b of pins 952, 9b and for receiving pins 9C. The ends`9b of pins 9a, 95 and pins 9 enter into holes 9h, 9l whenever handle levers 9g are arranged Vin their operating position along chains 6. Handle levers 9g are a means for pivoting plates 9 about their pins 9%, 9b from the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 to the position shown in FIGS. 5 land 6.- Pins 9c when pivoted jointly with plates 9 move thepupperV ends of hook-shaped rods 9e along circular'trajectories resulting in gradual lifting of extensions 7a until the difference `x between the level of extensions 7a and that of pins 6a becomes zero, and pas- Y Vthe closest pair of hollow sageways 6b, 7b are in coaxial positions. This then makes Vit possible to insert pins S, 8a lall the way into passageways pins 8, 8ar

, eration of the same kind,fi.e. for the next operation of aligning yaxial extensions 72L on a hollow roll-supporting rod 7 with a pair of hollow chain pins 6a.

When the hollow'roll-supportmg rods 7 are in. a po'sie` ti-on in which they :arersolely supported by'pins 8, 8a

rather than by the hook-shaped ends 9f of rods 9e,.the

lowest level assumed Yby rollY W during its Vtravel is so high as to preclude roll W fromy ever touching the floor ,Y :on which uprights 1 are standing and from which roll W`V had been lifted. This is apparentfrorn a consideration of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing that the spacing of extensionsY 7a from the floor is approximately equal to the radius of roll W as long as the roll W rests on the door or on the ground, including the instant extensions 7a are being grabbed by the :hook-shaped ends 9f of -rods 9e. At any time after the suspension of roll W has been transferred from the hook-shaped rods 9e to pins 8, 8a the spacing of Y k extensions '7a from the ground or floor exceeds the radius` of roll W and, therefore, roll W will not slide on the lground after its suspension has been transferred from Y' hook-shaped rods 9e to pins 8, 8a.

In the preferred embodiment ofthe invention the stand 1, 2 is adapted to receive'rolls W of merchandise ofidifferent width. This callsfor a change of the distance between the two uprights 1. As shown in FIG. 2 beams 2 include a telescoping portion 2', shaft 3 includes a telescoping portion 3' and hollow rod 7 includes a telescoping portion 7. Thesetelescoping portions 2', 3' and 7' make is possible to vary at will the Adistance between the two Vuprights 1. Parts 2, 3 and 7 are provided with transverse holes intended to receive cotter'pins to mainf tain the length of pa-rts 2, 3 and 7 once it has been selected.

As shown in FIG. 2 the upper beam 2suppor`ts a Y bracket 2b for a bearing 2a supporting shaft'B. vShaft 3 may -be operated by an Yelectric motorby the intermediary of a self-locking worm ygear drive (not shown) adapted to move the chains-6on Wheels 4fselectively in either of two directions. If it is preferred to operate the device manually rather than by an electric motor, shaft 3 is preferably arranged in such a way that it supports the two lower sprocket wheels 4 rather than the upper sprocket wheels 4 and one of the lower sprocket wheels 4 is associated with an appropriate manually operable crank mechanism.

If desired uprights 1 may be provided with casters (not shown) to make it possible to readily change the location of the device.

It appears from the foregoing that extensions 7a are not arranged in coaxial relation to roll W of merchandise. As a result, roll W has no tendency to roll about extensions 7a and thus to unroll, or unwind, unintentionally some of the merchandise. When merchandise is unrolled from roll Wa certain resistance against unwinding must be overcome, and it is quite easy to overcome that resistance.

It will be understood that a plurality of rolls W of merchandise may be mounted on the chains 6 on stand 1, 2 in the same fashion as has been explained above in connection with one single roll W.

The structure or toggle mechanism 9b, 9 9 for lifting a roll W of merchandise may also be used for lowering the level of a roll W of merchandise. Assuming that it is intended for one reason or another to remove a -roll W of merchandise from the stand of FIGS. l and 2; this can be achieved 'by arranging the structure 9g, 9e 9 on the system of chains 6 in the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, thereupon removing pins 8, 8a supporting hollow rod 7 on its extensions 7a, and thereafter lowering levers 9g as a result of which the constituent parts of the device are moved from their positions shown in FIGS. and 6 to their positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. It will thus be apparent that the process of removing a roll W of merchandise from the revolving chain drive is the reverse of the process of securing a roll W of merchandise to that drive.

While, in accordance with the patent statutes, I have disclosed the details of a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that many of these details are merely illustrative and variations in their precise form Will be possible, or necessary, depending on the particular nature of application.

I desire, therefore, that my invention be limited only to the extent set forth in the appended claims, and by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for storing and displaying rolls of rolledup merchandise in sheet-form, such as oor coverings of various materials, comprising in combination:

(a) a pair of uprights;

(b) lsubstantially horizontal beams joining said pair of uprights to form a stand jointly with said pair of uprights;

(c) a rst pair of sprocket wheels arranged at a relatively low level each adjacent one of s-aid iirst pair of uprights and supported by said stand;

(d) a second pair of sprocket wheels arranged at a relatively higli level each adjacent one of said pair of uprights and supported by said stand;

(e) a pair of endless plate link chains each supported by one of said first pair of sprocket wheels and one of said second pair of sprocket wheels, said pair of chains including hollow link-connecting pins;

(f) a pair of hooks each pivotally supported on one end thereof by one of said pair of chains;

(g) manually operable means for varying the spacing 'between the points of pivotal support of said pair of hooks and said link-connecting pins of the pair of chain links of said pair of chains immediately adjacent said points of pivotal support; and

('h) pin means for supporting rolls of merchandise, said pin means being inserted into a pair of hollow linkconnecting pins and projecting-at right angles axially inward from the pair of said pair of chains.

2. A device for storing and displaying rolls of rolled-up merchandise in sheet-form, such as iloor coverings of various materials, comprising in combination:

(a) a pair of uprights;

(b) substantially horizontal beams joining said pair of uprights to form a stand jointly with said pair of uprights;

(c) a irst pair of sprocket wheels arranged at a relatively low level each adjacent one of said pair of uprights and supported by said stand;

(d) a second pair of sprocket wheels arranged at a relatively high level each adjacent one of said pair of uprights and supported by said stand;

(e) a pair of endless plate link chains each supported by one of said rst pair of sprocket Wheels and one of said second pair of sprocket wheels, said pair of chains including lhollow link-connecting pins;

(f) a pair of toggle mechanisms supported by pin means inserted into a first pair of said hollow link-connecting pins, each of said pair of toggle mechanisms including a hook forming a fulcrum at one point thereof, and each of said pair of toggle mechanisms further including a manually operable lever for varying the spacing between said iirst pair of hollow link-connecting pins and said fulcrum of said hook; and

(g) pin means for supporting rolls of merchandise, said pin means being inserted into a second pair of said hollow link-connecting pins and projecting at right angles axially inwardly from the pair of planes generally defined lby said pair of chains.

3. A device for storing and displaying rolls of rolled-up merchandise in sheet-form, such as iioor coverings of various materials, comprising in combination:

(a) a pair of uprights;

(b) substantially horizontal beams joining said pair of uprights to form a stand jointly with said pair of uprights;

(c) a iirst pair of sprocket wheels arranged at a relatively low level each adjacent one of said pair of uprights and supported by said stand;

(d) a second pair of sprocket wheels arranged at a re1- atively high level each adjacent one of said pair of uprights and supported by said stand;

(e) a pair or endless plate link chains each supported by one of said first pair of sprocket wheels and one of said second pair of sprocket wheels, said pair of chains including hollow link-connecting pins;

(f) a pair of first pin means inserted into a iirst pair of hollow link-connecting pins;

(g) a pair of plates pivotally supported by said first pair of pin means, each of said pair of plates being provided with a pin spaced from, and extending parallel to, said rst pin means;

(h) a pair of members each having a hook-shaped end and each having an aperture at one end thereof remote from said hook-shaped end engaged by said pin on one of said pair of plates;

(i) a pair of bell-crank-shaped operating levers, each of said pair of operating levers having'a pair of parallel bores, one of said pair of bores being engaged by said iirst pin means, and the other of said pair of bores being engaged by said pin on one of said pair of plates; and

(j) pin means for supporting rolls of merchandise, said pin means being inserted into a second pair of said hollow link-connecting pins and projecting at right angles axially inwardly from the pair of planes generally defined by said pair of chains.

4. A device for storing and displaying rolls of rolled-up merchandise in sheet-form, such as floor coverings of various materials, comprising in combination:

planes generally dened by (a) a pair of uprights;

(b) substantially horizontal beams joining said pair of uprights to form a stand jointly with said pair of uprights;

(c) a irst pair of sprocket wheels arranged at a relatively low level each adjacent one of said pair of uprights and supported by said stand;

(d) a second pair of sprocket wheels arranged at a relatively high level each adjacent one of said pair of uprights and supported by said stand;

(e) a pair of endless plate link chains each supported by one of said iirst pair of sprocket wheels and one of said second pair of sprocket wheels, said pair of chains including hollow link-connecting pins;

(f) a supporting bar for rolls of merchandise having tubular extensions projecting axially outwardly from the ends thereof and being arranged in registry parallel to the longitudinal axis of said supporting bar and in spaced relation from said axis;

(g) a pair of hook-members each pivotally supported on one end thereof by one of said pair of chains and each forming a hook on the other end thereof for engaging one of said extensions of said supporting bar;

(h) manually operable means for varying the spacing between said one end of each of said pair of hook members and said link-connecting pins of said pair of chains immediately adjacent to said one end of each of said pair of hook members; and

(i) a pair of pin means inserted into a pair of said hollow link-connecting pins and projecting into said tubular extensions of said supporting bar.

5. A device for storing and displaying rolled-up merchandise in sheet-form, such as oor coverings of various materials, comprising in combination:

(a) a pair of uprights; Y

(b) substantially horizontal beams joining said pair of uprights to form a stand jointly with said pair of uprights;

(c) a iirst pair of sprocket wheels arranged at a relatively low level each adjacent one of said pair of uprights and supported by said stand;

(d) a second pair of sprocket wheels arranged at a relatively high level each adjacent one of said pair of uprights and supported by said stand;

(e) a pair of endless plate link chains each supported by one of said first pair of sprocket wheels and one of said second pair of sprocket wheels, said pair of chains including hollow link-connecting pins;

(f) a cylindrical hollow supporting bar for rolls of merchandise having tubular extensions integral with said bar, inserted into the ends of said bar and projecting axially outwardly from the ends of said bar, said extensions being arranged along the same generatrix of said bar and in spaced relation from the longitudinal axis of said bar;

(g) a pair of toggle mechanisms supported by pin means inserted into a iirst pair of said hollow linkconnecting pins, each of said pair of toggle mechanisms including a hook forming a fulcrum on one end thereof and being shaped on the other end thereof for engagement of one of said tubular extensions of said supporting bar, each of said pair of toggle mechanisms further including a manually operable lever for varying the spacing between one of said iirst pair of hollow link-connecting pins and said fulcrum of said hook of one of said pair of toggle mechanisms; and

(h) a pair of pin means inserted into a second pair of said hollow link-connecting pins each projecting into one of said tubular extensions of said supporting bar.

6. A device for storing and displaying rolls of rolledup merchandise in sheet-form, such as door coverings of various materials, comprising in combination:

(a) a pair of uprights;

(b) substantially horizontal beams joining said pair of uprights to form a stand jointly with said pair of uprights; v

(c) a iirst pair of sprocket wheels arranged at a relatively low level each adjacent one of said pair of uprights and supported by said stand;

(d) -a second pair of sprocket wheels arranged at a relatively high level each adjacent one of said pair of uprights and supported by said stand;

(e) a pair of endless plate link chains each supported by one of said first pair of sprocket wheels and one of said second pair of sprocket wheels, said pair of chains including hollow link-connecting pins;

(f) a cylindrical hollow supporting merchandise having tubular extensions integral with said bar, inserted into the ends of said bar and pror-Y jecting axially outwardly from the ends of said bar, said extensions lbeing .arranged along the same generatrix of said bar and in spaced relation from the longitudinal axis of'said bar;

g) a pair of plates each having-one of first pair of pin means engaging one of rst pair of said hollow link-connectingY pins, each of said pair of plates being provided with a pin spaced from, and extending parallel to, one of said trst pair of pin means;

(h) a pair of members each having a hook-shaped end and each having an aperture at one endrthereof remote from said hook-shaped end engaged by said pin on one of said pair of plates;

(i) a pair of bell-crank-shaped operating levers, each of said pair of operating levers having a pair of par- -allel bores, one of said pair of bores being engaged by one of said first pair of pin means, and the other of said pair of bores being engaged by said pin on Y one of said pair of plates; and (j) a vpairY of pin means inserted into a second pair of said hollow link-connecting pins each projecting into one of said tubular extensions of said supporting bar.

7. A device for storing and displaying rolls of rolledup merchandise in sheet-form, such as floor coverings of various materials, comprising in combination:

(a) Ya pair of spaced uprights;

(b) substantially horizontal beams joining said pair of uprights to form a stand jointly with said pair of uprights, said horizontal beams comprising telescoping portions to vary theA spacing-between said pair of uprights;

(c) a pair of horizontal bearings each supported by one of said pair of uprights;

(d) a horizontal shaft supported by said pair of bearings at the ends thereof, said shaft comprising telescoping portions to vary the length thereof; Y

(e) a iirst pair of sprocket Wheels supported by said shaft and adjacent one of the ends thereof; v Y

(f) a second pair sprocket wheels supported by said stand each arranged in a plane deined lby one of said rst pair of sprocket wheels;

(g) a pair of endless plate link chains each supported by one of said first pair of sprocket-wheels'and one of said second pair of sprocket wheels, said pair of chains including hollow link-connecting pins;

(h) a pair of hooks each pivotally supported on one end thereof by one of said pair of chains;

(i) manually operable means for varying the spacing between the points of pivotal support of said pair of hooks and said link-connecting pins of said pair of chains immediately adjacent said points of pivotal support; and

(j) pin means for supporting rolls of merchandise, said pin means being inserted into a pair of hollow linkconnecting pins and projecting at right angles axially lnward from the pair of planes generally defined by said pair of chains.

bar for rolls ofV 8. A device for storing and displaying rolls of rolledup merchandise in sheet-form, such as floor coverings of various materials, comprising in combination:

(a) a pair of spaced uprights;

(b) substantially horizontal beams joining said pair of uprights to form a stand jointly with said pair of uprights, said horizontal beams comprising telescoping portions to vary the spacing between said pair of uprights;

(c) a pair of horizontal bearings each supported by one of said pair of uprights;

(d) a horizontal shaft supported by said pair of bearings at the ends thereof, said shaft comprising telescoping portions to vary the length thereof;

(e) a first pair of sprocket Wheels supported by said shaft and adjacent one of the ends thereof;

(f) a second pair of sprocket wheels supported by said stand each arranged in a plane dened by one of said rst pair of sprocket wheels;

(g) a pair of endless plate link chains each supported by one of said first pair of sprocket wheels and one of said second pair of sprocket wheels, said pair of chains including hollow link-connecting pins;

(h) a cylindrical hollow supporting `bar for rolls of merchandise having tubular extensions integral with said bar, inserted into the ends of said bar and projecting axially outwardly from the ends of said bar, said extensions being arranged along the same generatrix of said bar and in spaced relation from the longitudinal axis of said bar, said bar comprising telescoping portions to vary the length thereof;

(i) a pair of plates each having one of a iirst pair of pin means engaging one of a rst pair of said hollow link-connecting pins, each of said pair of plates being provided with a pin spaced from, and extending parallel to, one of said rst pair of pin means;

(j) a pair of members each having a hook-shaped end and each having an aperture at one end thereof remote from said hook-shaped end engaged `by said pin on one of said pair of plates;

(k) a pair of bell-crank-shaped operating levers, each of said pair of operaing levers having a pair of parallel bores, one of said pair of bores being engaged by one of said rst pair of pin means, and the other of said pair of ybores being engaged by said pin on one of said pair of plates; and

(l) a pair of pin means inserted into a second pair of said hollow link-connecting pins each projecting into one of said tubular extensions of said supporting bar.

References Qited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 686,828 11/1901 Myers 312-97 X 859,425 7/ 1907 Batts 3 l2-268 1,542,817 6/1925 Berheim 3l2-134 2,636,799 4/1953 Lyon et al. 312-134 CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner'.

30 A. FRANKEL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR STORING AND DISPLAYING ROLLS OF ROLLEDUP MERCHANDISE IN SHEET-FORM, SUCH AS FLOOR COVERINGS OF VARIOUS MATERIALS, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A PAIR OF UPRIGHTS; (B) SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL BEAMS JOINING SAID PAIR OF UPRIGHTS TO FORM A STAND JOINTLY WITH SAID PAIR OF UPRIGHTS; (C) A FIRST PAIR OF SPROCKET WHEELS ARRANGED AT A RELATIVELY LOW LEVEL EACH ADJACENT ONE OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF UPRIGHTS AND SUPPORTED BY SAID STAND; (D) A SECOND PAIR OF SPROCKET WHEELS ARRANGED AT A RELATIVELY HIGH LEVEL EACH ADJACENT ONE OF SAID PAIR OF UPRIGHTS AND SUPPORTED BY SAID STAND; (E) A PAIR OF ENDLESS PLATE LINK CHAINS EACH SUPPORTED BY ONE OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF SPROCKET WHEELS AND ONE OF SAID SECOND PAIR OF SPROCKET WHEELS SAID PAIR OF CHAINS INCLUDING HOLLOW LINK-CONNECTING PINS; (F) A PAIR OF HOOKS EACH PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED ON ONE END THEREOF BY ONE OF SAID PAIR OF CHAINS; (G) MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANS FOR VARYING THE SPACING BETWEEN THE POINTS OF PIVOTAL SUPPORT OF SAID PAIR OF HOOKS AND SAID LINK-CONNECTING PINS OF THE PAIR OF CHAIN LINKS OF SAID PAIR OF CHAINS IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT SAID POINTS OF PIVOTAL SUPPORT; AND (H) PIN MEANS FOR SUPPORTING ROLLS OF MERCHANDISE, SAID PIN MEANS BEING INSERTED INTO A PAIR OF HOLLOW LINKCONNECTING PINS AND PROJECTING AT RIGHT ANGLES AXIALLY INWARD FROM THE PAIR OF PLANES GENERALLY DEFINED BY SAID PAIR OF CHAINS. 